Multiple-engraving machine



G- H. FAICHNEY- MULTIPLE ENGRAVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.2, I920.

Patented. Nov. 16, 1920.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1- is mkw I N V EN TOR.

G eorye H. Fsw'c/rnay.

A TTORNE Y.

G. H. FAICHNEY.

MULTIPLE ENGRAVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1920.

I N VEN TOR. 6e orye flFarc/mey.

A TTORNE Y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cnoaen n. FAICHNEY, or wnrna'rowu, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE RANDALL- FAICHNEY serum, or BOSTON, nassacnnsnrrs, A CORPORATION or nassa CHUSET'I'S.

MULTIPIQE-ENGRAVING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 16, 1920.

Application filed January 2, 1920. Serial N0. 349,113.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon H. FAICHNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at .Vatertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New-York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple- Engraving Machines, of which the follow is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in engraving machines, particularly of the type employed for lIlSCIlblIlg names, numbers and the like upon stock articles.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class, which is controlled and actuated by a p'antograph mechanism,

of the device, and wherein the graying or scribing may be effected on fiat, concave or convex surfaces by means of self-adjusting gravitative engravers, which may be simultaneously thrown into the operative or released positions the operator. A further object is to provide'a frame for supporting the engravers and related parts, which is adapted for universal movements in a horizontal plane, by a single connection with the pantograph mechanism. And a further object is to provide a normally stationary work-supporting table, and novel and simple means for adjusting the said table.

I attain these objects by the means set forth in the detailed description which follows. and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a top plan view of the complete machine, showing a pantograph operatively connected thereto. Fig. 2 is a rear side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the machine. Fig. i is an enlarged sectional View, taken substantially on line l-d of Fig. 2; showing the construction, arrangement and operation of one of the gravitative engravers. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the means for simulously raising and lowering the en- 7, taken in the direction of the arrow .2. Fig. 6 is albrolren plan view of the removable work supporting table. F lg; (18 a cross section, taken on liIie 77 of 1 1g. 6; showing the grooves which receive and support the work. Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6; showing the means for adjusting the work table.

In the drawings, 2 is the base which supports the entire mechanism, upon which is mounted a stationary frame, which comprises upright posts 3 and 3", and rabbeted bars 3 and 3, the latter extending transversely and parallel across the base, and

being rigidly secured to the corresponding" posts by screws 3 The bars 3 and 3fare spaced apart and their rabbeted edges face each other and .slidably receive a false platform or table 3 which is normally station-' ary during the engraving operations, but

may be adjusted along said bars by screws 3 4 represents the removable work su .v Portmg table? which is slidable longitudinally, for positioning the work relatively to the engraving tools or needles, on the platform 3, between cleats 3*,as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 8. "The table 4 is adjusted by means of a lever 41, which is pivoted at onefend to the rear underside of the platform 3 the other end of said lever projects beyond the front edge of the I platform within reach of the operator. Be

tween its ends, the lever 4: is provided with an upwardly facing socket 4, which re ceives a stud 4 carried by the table a, the said socket being positioned in a slot 4 in rality of parallel longitudinal grooves P,

which receive and hold the work C during the engraving operat1ons. Two or more of the work tables l areusuallyprovided for each machine, and theyare readily and" "quickly detached from the platform, by

simply disconnecting the studs 4P from the sockets. this arrangement, while they work carried by one table is being engraved, f

the other tables maybe unloaded and reloaded, thus permitting the machines to be operated continuously.

p The present machine has been designed particularly for engraving thetrade-name and place of manufacture on thermometers, but it is obvious that the same mechanism may be employed for engraving various other articles without materially changing the construction and arrangement of the parts. Heretofore, the engraving of thermometers has been done by machines of the pantographic type, which were arranged for engraving but one thermometer at a time. This required a large number of machines and an operator for each machine, which rendered thework slow and tedious, and also quite expensive. Besides, these single engravers required careful and accurate adjustment of the engraving. needles for work of different sizes andshapes in order to obtain the proper pressure of the tools upon, and for the exact positioning of the needles relatively to the work. Careless and inexperienced operators therefore often turned out work which was imperfect,- and frequently the more or less fragile articles were broken, due to faulty adjustment, or excessive weight or pressure of certain of the working parts. It isa particular object-of the present invention to provide a plurality of similar engraving tools which perform identical work. :These tools are all self-adjusting and operate simultaneously. W hen the engraving operation is about to begin, the engraving tools are-all. released and instantly gravitate to the operative position, in a contact with the work. No adjustment of the tools is required, because the weight of said tools is so proportioned as to effect the requisite pressure for performing uniform and perfect work w1thout any attention or assistance from the operator, I V

The engravers herein shown and described consist of suitable sharp pointed needles or tools 5, which are detachably inserted in the lower ends of plun gers or stocks 6-, the latter being reciprocally held and truly guided vertically by, brackets 6, the said brackets having their horizontal arms slotted for at 'justably'securing them to similar supporting bars 7 and 7, by bolts 6% are arranged 1n pairs and are preferably,

The bars 7. and 7' disposed parallel and are spaced apart to properly support and steady the brackets 6. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the brackets 6 are alternately'vre'versed and bolted on each pair'of bars 7 and 7', which serves to properly balance the parts, at the same time permits. the employment of a large number. of engravers within a relatively.

small space. The bars 7 and .7) are longitudinally disposed in the machine and 'are supported at their opposite ends by cross bars 8, which are rigid on posts 8, the latter being supported by transverse cleats 9- which are mountednear' the" opposite ends,

of a platform 9. The platform 9 and all of the mounted-upon it are movable transversely and longitudinally as one part 11" of the second series of bearings.

and they are also permitted suitable circular movements in the same horizontal plane, by means of a plurality of ball bearings 10 and 11. The bearings 10 consist of elongated grooved members 10 which are rigidly secured to the underside of' the platform 9, and similar members 1O which are rigidly mounted on the topmost members 11 represents the lowermost members or races of the second'bearings, which are rigidly secured to the stationary base 2 and are preferably spaced therefrom by posts 10 and 11 represent respectively the balls for the two sets of bearings. By the provision of the ball bearings 10 and 11, the engravers 5, as well as all the other parts carried by the platform 9, may be given practically universal movement in ahorimoved forward and backward, the members 10 of the bearings 10a'lone move, while all the other bearing members. below them re main stationary. moves longitudinally, all of the bearing members except the lowermost members 11 move with the platform as one part.

The work supporting table 4c is shown loaded with (clinic) thermometers C, there being one thermometer for each of the engravers 5. lVhenthe machine is idle, the plungersfi are held-in thereleased position suitable distance above thework, by a plurality of rocking bars 12, the opposite ends of which are journaled in transverse rails 12' which are mounted on posts 12?, the latter being supported by the cross-bars 8, all of which move with the platform 9. The rocking bars 12 have V-shaped top edges upon which rest horizontally disposed fingers 6 the latter being rigidly connected to the top ends of the plunger 6. vVhen the bars 12 are in their normal position (see full lines in Figs. 2, 4 and-5) they'hold all of the needles above and clea of the work on the tablel. The rocking bars .12 are operated by the following'means; 12 designates similar wheels which are rigid on the corresponding ends of the bars 12. These When the platform 9 wheels are tied together for simultaneous floor. W hen theoperator is ready to start the engraving. work, she depresses the pedal, which pulls downwardly on the eord12 andpartiallv' turns all of the rocking bars,

from the-full. and dettedline positions, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5. Th s simultaneou-sly releasesall of the plungers 6 and allows the needles 5' to gra'vf itate toward the mounted in a grooved holder 15 secured to the front portion of the base 2. When the engraving of the parts C is finished the operator releases the pedal and a spring S attached to the rod 12 rocks the bars 12 in the opposite direction, which lifts all of the needles 5 away from the work, (see full lines in Figs. 2, 3 and 4:), andholds them there ready for the next operation;

The engraving mechanism, and all of the parts mounted upon the oscillating platform 9, except the gravitation and release of the engravers 5, is controlled and actuated by a pantographic mechanism of well-known type, which consists of a standard 13, having a forked arm 13, in which is pivoted a lever 13 at 13*. To the lever 13 is pivoted a lever 13 at 13. The lever 13 is also pivotally connected to the platform 9 by a post 14. As the axis of the post '14 is eccentric to the pivot 13 by the swinging, in a horizontal plane, of the lever 13, the platform 9 and all of the parts carried by it are given the various horizontal movements, asde scribed. One end of the lever 13 is pivoted to a tracer arm 15, the forward end of said arm being fitted with a tracer point 15, which the operator guides over the copy (A) of the matter to be engraved on the work C.

The opposite end of the arm '15 is tied to the rear end of the lever 13 by a rod 16. By adjusting the several levers 13, 13P, and the arm 15, in a well-known manner, the operator is able to reproduce thewords, letters and figures ofthe copy A, on either a reduced or enlarged scale upon the work C. The full and dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3 show the range of movement of the tracer arm 15 and the other parts of the pantograph for effecting the corresponding movements of theplatform 9 and the needles 5 while engraving the work 0. The reproduction herein shown is on a reduced scale. The plungers 6 are free to rotate in the brackets 6, to the extent shown by the different positionsof the fingers 6 in Fig. 1. To prevent the fingers from becoming accidentally detached from the rocking bars 12, their free ends are bent downwardly as shown in Fig. 4.

In case an engraving needle becomes broken or injured, or a smaller number of articles are to be engraved than the machine is arranged for, the operator may readily and quickly withdraw one or more of the needles, by simply lifting them out of the brackets 6, where they are held by gravity,

and insert new needles, or else proceed with the engraving with fewer of the needles.

7 The present machine is arranged to engrave twenty-five articles at one operation, and obviously this number may be increased or diminished at will. The table 4: with its grooves for holding the work C, is particularly adapted for engraving the trade-mark and similar matter, which need not be positioned relatively to the graduations on the thermometers with the same precision as is requiredfor the degree numbers, and there fore it is not necessary forthe operator to watch the work closely during its progress.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, is V 1. In a multiple engraving machine, a plurality of gravitative engraving tools, adapted to effect engravingby their own weight, a support for said tools, saidsupport adapted for holding the points ofall of said tools in a horizontal plane when the tools are idle, means for lowering said tools toward the work, and means .for simultaneously'moving all of said tools in a horizontal plane during the engraving operations. t I

2. In a multiple engraving machine, a plurality of gravitative engraving tools adapted to perform identical work simultaneously, a support for said tools, means for actuating said support for moving all of said tools in a horizontal plane, a worksupporting table disposed beneath said tools, means for effecting the gravitation of said tools toward the work on said table, and means for guiding said tools during their vertical movement.

3. In a multiple engraving niachine, a

plurality of engraving tools adapted top'erform identical work simultaneously and to be held in engraving contact with the work by gravity, an adjustable support for each engraving tool which serves to truly guide.

the tool in its movements toward and away from. the work, a frame for supporting all of said tools adapted for universal movements in a horizontal plane, means for actuating said frame, and a table adapted to hold the work stationary I during the en-- graving operations.

4:. In a multiple'engraver, the combina-- tion with a pantograph mechanism, of a movable platform, a post carried by said platform pivoted to a part of said mecha-' nism whereby said platform is moved forwardly,backwardly and circularly in .a horizontal plane, a. work-supporting table disposed above said platform, a plurality of f gravitative engraving needles supported by said platform above said table and movable horizontally by said platform, and rocking bars controlling the vertical movements of sa1d needles toward and from said table.

5. In a multlple engraving machine, a

frame movable in a horizontal plane, a work supporting table, means for adjusting said table, a plurality of gravitative engraving tools movable with said frame and adapted for vertical movements toward and away from said table independent of said frame,

means for actuating said frame for effecting taneously releasing all of said tools for allowing them' to gravitate into engraving contact with the work, and means for maintaining the axes of said tools inatruly vertical' plane. I l l 7. In' a multiple engraving machine, a platform adapted foruniversal movements in a horizontal plane, means for actuating said platform, a work-supporting table ad pistably mounted abovejsaid platform and the engraving normally stationary dur operations, rocking bars disposed above said table, said bars supported by and movable with said platform, engraving needles having fingers resting on said bars, adapted to' gravitate toward said table and to be lifted awayfrom the table by the rocking" of said bars, and means for adjusting said table for positioning the work relativelyto said needles. 7 v

8. In a multiple engraver, a frame movable 1n a hoiazontalplanma work-supporting table adjustable longitudinally, a support for said table 'adyustable transversely in said frame but not connected to said frame, a plurality of engraving tools supported-by and movable with said frame,

said tools positioned above said table and adapted for vertical movements indepencen-t of the frame, tensioncontrolled means for holding said tools out of engagement with work disposedon' said table, and means for overcoming said tension for allowing said' tools to grav1tate into engraving contact 'withthe work on said table- 6O 7 9. In multiple engraving machines, the combinat on with a pantograuhie mechanism, a horizontally movable platform op eratively connected to said mechanism, a

work-supporting table adapted to be held stationary during the operation of said plat "form, a plurality of similar engraving tools )lane a worlr-suaaortin table ad'ustabl a h l mounted above said platform, a plurality of engraving needles supported'by said platform and movable horizontallv therewith, brackets for holding and guiding said needles in a true verticalplane when said nee dles move toward and away from said table. said needles being free to rotate for prevent ingthe uneven wearing 'oftheir points, means for lowering said needles to the en graving position, and means for lifting and holding said needles away fromthe work. 11. In a multiple engraving machlne, the comblnation with a pantograph mechanism having a tracerarm adapted for tracing the copy of the matter to be engraved,of a plat form adapted for universal movements in a horizontal plane, a post carried by said platform pivoted'to a part of said pantograph, a stationary frame, awork-supporting table adjustably mounted on said frame, a plurality of gravitative engraving needles sup ported by said platform and movablein a horizontal plane therewith, said needles adapted to move vertically toward and away from said table, and a plurality of rocking bars for controlling the vertical movements of said needles.

12. In a multiple engraving machine, a stationary frame, an adjustable work-supporting table mountedon sa-id frame, a platform disposed beneath said table and movable in different directions in a horizontal plane, a plurality of engraving needles carried by said platform and movable there within a horizontal plane, said needles arranged in rows I and disposed above and substantiallyin registry with the work on said table, rocking bars for holding said needles away from the work, and means for lockingsaidbarsfor allowing all of said needles to gravitate toward the work.

113. Ina multiple engraving machine, a

platform adapted for universal movements in a horizontal plane, means for actuating said-platform, astationary frame above said platform, a work-supportlng table ad ustableon said'fra me having parallel grooves for holding the work to be engravethrocking 'bars disposed above and parallel to said movable with said platform, engraving tools grooves, said bars supported by and having fingers resting on said bars, said too-ls arranged in rows corresponding toand spaced above said grooves and adapted to gravitate toward the work when the operator rocks said bars in one direction, said tools adapted to be lifted away from the work by the automatic rocking of said bars in the opposite direction.

14. In a multiple engraving machine, a stationary work-supporting table, a platform adapted for movements in a horizontal plane, means for actuating said platform, a plurality of gravitative engraving tools carried by said platform and disposed above said table, means for holding said tools out of engagement with the work on said table, and means for simultaneously releasing all of said tools for allowing them to gravitate into engraving contact with the work.

15. In a multiple engraving machine, the combination with a pantograph mechanism, having a manipulatable tracing arm, of a horizontally movable platform operatively connected to said mechanism, ball-bearings on which said platform moves longitudinally, ball-bearings on which said platform moves transversely, a plurality of gravitative engraving tools supported by and movable with said platform, a normally stationary work-supporting table disposed between said platform and said tools, said table having work receiving grooves arranged to face and register with said tools, brackets for guiding said tools when they move vertically, bars arranged in pairs for supporting said brackets, said bars being rigid on and movable with said platform, rocking-arms supported by said platform above the other bars, said rocking-bars arranged to automatically lift and hold said tools out of engagement with the work on said table, and means for rotating said rocking-bars for allowing all of said tools to gravitate into engraving contact with the work on said table.

16. A multiple engraving machine, including a stationary frame, a work supporting said table, a plurality of ball-bearings arran ed in pairs disposed beneath and supporting said platform, one pair of said bearings disposed transversely, the other pair of said bearings disposed longitudinally relatively to said platform, a plurality of engraving tools supported by said platform above said table, a bracket in which each tool is vertically r'eciprocable and freely rotatable, parallel bars on which said brackets are reversely and adjustably mounted supported by said platforgn, rocking-bars adapted for normally holding said tools a uniform distance from the work on said table, means for rotating said rocking-bars for allowing said tools to gravitate into engraving con tact with work supported by said table, and means for simultaneously moving all of said tools away from the said table, for permitting the removal of the work.

17. In a multiple engraving machine, a base, a pair of ball-bearings mounted on said base, one member thereof rigid on said base, a pair of ball bearings mounted on the first pair and at right angles thereto, the lowermost members of the second bearings rigid to the topmost members of the first bearings, a platform rigidly secured to the topmost members of the second bearings, a stationary work-supporting table disposed above said platform, a plurality of gravitative engraving needles positioned above said table and adapted for vertical move- 'ments toward and away from the work on said table, brackets for supporting and guiding said needles, rocking-bars controlling the vertical movements of said needles, means for rocking said bars for raising said needles, means for rocking said bars for allowing the gravitation of said needles, and

means for moving said platform on said bearings in different directions horizontally and for correspondingly moving all of said needles.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

table adjustably mounted on said frame, a r

platform disposed beneath and parallel to GEORGE H. FAIGHNEY. 

